A clip has emerged of disqualified Paralympic runner Jaryd Clifford following his Paris fracture.
Visually impaired middle-distance runner Clifford passed for third place in the men’s 5,000 metres final (T13) at the Stade de France on Saturday, but was told his result was not valid.
Officials disqualified Clifford’s attempt because he dropped the line connecting him to his guide just before the finish.
Clifford, the only runner in the race with a guide, was visibly upset as he spoke to reporters after learning his bronze medal had been stripped from him.
And a video clip in which Clifford is interviewed by Australian Paralympic hero Dylan Alcott reveals that the runner had reservations about running with a guide, due to concerns about the guide’s speed.
“They recently introduced new rules, which is that the length of the cable that me and the guide are holding has to be 30cm, but most of that is taken up by the loops that we are holding,” he said. “So we are actually connected by our hands.
‘But we recently had to make the decision that I should run the 5K alone, because my guides…’
At this point Alcott excitedly interrupted the conversation: ‘Too slow, that’s because they’re too slow! Say it! Say the words!’
Australian Paralympic athlete Jaryd Clifford claimed his guide runners were too slow for him
Paralympic athlete Clifford was heartbroken after brutal disqualification in Paris
Clifford was automatically disqualified after dropping his tether just before the finish
Laughing, Clifford said, “No, I can’t say! Yes, maybe.”
The 25-year-old had hoped to appeal, but the International Paralympic Committee has told him he has no grounds to challenge the ruling.
“I went to my mom, dad and my girlfriend and I burst into tears,” Clifford said.
‘I had a little cry on the side of the track.
‘If you consider responding to results as grieving, then I’ve had my moment of grieving.
“When I got on the track, I was a little numb, and I’m still a little numb… I’m pretty knackered, to be honest. If I’m honest, we went out there with the goal of winning gold.”
Clifford’s devastation was plain to see and the dramatic and confusing circumstances surrounding his disqualification capped a rollercoaster of a first hour on the track.
The Australian is currently in a relationship with fellow Paralympic competitor Anna Grimaldi, who competes for New Zealand.
While thinking back on their relationship, she said Now: ‘I know, I know, he’s Australian! How did I let this happen!?
“He’s great and it’s nice that even though we’re both in track and field, his events are different than mine. We keep most of the athletic stuff in training, but it’s helpful that we understand what the other is going through.”
Clifford was comforted by fellow Paralympic athlete and friend Anna Grimaldi
He admitted he felt ‘a bit numb’ after his ‘moment of mourning’ after losing his bronze medal
The couple have been dating for a year and Grimaldi hopes to convince Clifford to move to Dunedin soon.
“It’s going pretty well, I think!” she said. “He’s coming here and I’m going there. It’s been really good.
“It’s nice to have each other there. The last time he came to an event with me I made him hold a New Zealand flag. I think I’ll do that again!
“I’m so excited. I think I’ve realized over the last year that ‘sport Anna’ only thrives if ‘Anna Anna’ thrives. I think that’s the case now.”
